Ex-bosses blamed for Qld downfall

EX-WALLABY, now Ipswich businessman Brendan Cannon has slammed the Queensland Reds’ ousted administration for turning his beloved state into a rugby franchise no wants to play for.

Cannon predicted the Reds will begin to restore their credibility after most administrators from the past decade were cleaned out during the off-season.
Cannon was an inaugural player for the Western Force Super 14 franchise that ripped the heart from Queensland’s playing talent five years ago, which the squad is only now recovering from.

But Cannon said if the Force did not do it, someone else would have.
“There was a lot of blame placed on Force for taking Queensland’s best players but if those guys were happy at the Reds, they wouldn’t have left,” Cannon said.
Players who left the Reds to join the Force included current Wallabies Drew Mitchell, Nathan Sharpe, David Pocock, Richard Brown and Digby Ioane, who has since returned to the Reds.
“Those Queensland guys that came across felt anywhere was a better prospect than the Reds,” Cannon said.

“Maybe now that the big bosses are gone, they may start attracting players back next year.”

Cannon, who represented his country 42 times, was raised in Brisbane but now spends most of his time in Ipswich, overseeing property developments for corporate giant Charter Hall.

The hooker spent several seasons with the Reds during the 1990s when Queensland was the dominant rugby state.

“I played in a great era of Queensland rugby, alongside Jason Little, Tim Horan and Dan Crowley,” Cannon said.

“I feel even more fortunate now to have played in that era, considering the Reds’ downfall.
“There’s a great junior set-up in Queensland but it’s the other provinces that seem to benefit.”
The Ipswich Jets are another benefactor.

The Jets signed Reds discard AJ Gilbert, a promising forward who made the under-19 Wallabies side, for the next two years.

Gilbert, 22, had been told by the Reds he would be re-signed but they changed their minds.

Cannon said the Reds would improve significantly this year but were not ready for a finals tilt.

“It’s going to be hard but now the administrators are gone, things will turn around,” he said.

“They almost have a Wallaby backline but are probably two or three good quality forwards short of being a finals side.”

Let's not overlook the Berrick Barnes transfer, no mention of that...there would have been the same ol' finger pointing if he'd have come to the Force...!!! I hope the whingers leave the Force alone this year, and get over their "grievances" and concentrate on the job at hand...ARE YOU LISTENING GREG GROWDEN!!!???